Campaign for DSGMC ends; 2,500 cops to guard tomorrow’s polling
CHANDIGARH:As the campaign for February 26 polls to elect 46 members of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) came to an end on Friday, the directorate of gurdwara elections of the Delhi government has commissioned 2,500 police personnel to guard 560 polling stations in the national capital.
The main contenders in the elections are Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) led by outgoing DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK; SAD (Delhi) led by Paramjit Singh Sarna who remained president for over 10 years from to 1996 to 2013; and the Panthic Sewa Dal, an organisation formed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the ruling party in Delhi.
However, the Aam Aadmi Party has distanced itself from the gurdwara polls.
A total of 334 candidates are in the poll fray. The counting of votes will take place on March 1.
There are a total of 51 members in the DSGMC, of which 46 will be elected.
Two members are co-opted, another two chosen by draw of lots from among the Singh Sabha gurdwaras of Delhi and one representative is taken from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
As the Sikhs in the capital fight to wrest control over the coveted religio-political body, there are apprehensions of violence.
“We are taking no chances. There would be police deployment on the roads and mohallas also, which have the high concentration of Sikh voters,” said Shurbir Singh, director of gurdwara elections.
According to the gurdwara elections directorate, 57 polling stations have been declared hyper-sensitive and 111 as sensitive. “We are putting additional security on all the identified polling stations,” said Shurbir Singh.
The SAD (Badal), which is facing stiff competition from AAP in Punjab assembly polls, has been making all-out efforts to win DSGMC polls for second time in a row, while Sarna-led SAD (Delhi), which is out of power in the gurdwara politics for four years, is trying to stage a comeback. The Panthic Sewa Dal is just trying to secure a respectable percentage of votes to justify its presence in the fray.
Apart from managing 10 historic Gurdwaras in Delhi, including Bangla Sahib, Sis Ganj and Rakabganj Sahib, with an annual budget to the tune of ₹ 100 crore, the DSGMC has six industrial training institutes, 6 post-graduate colleges affiliated to the Delhi University, 18 public schools, 2 hospitals and an upcoming university under its management.
60% VOTER HAVE ID CARDS
Around 60% to the total 3.8 lakh eligible voters for the DSGMC polls have been issued identity cards.
To deal with the issue of fake voters, Shurbir Singh said, the directorate has published electoral rolls with photos of the voters. Those who were not issued identity cards could cast their vote after proving their identity with the help of alternate identity proofs such as a passport, driving licence, PAN card or Aadhaar card.
WHO IS A VOTER?
A Sikh who keeps unshorn hair and has faith in Guru Granth Sahib is a voter for the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee polls.
There are over 8 lakh Sikhs in the national capital, of which 3.8 lakh are voters.